The Reverend Reynell Cotton (1717–29 October 1779) was an English educator who was the

rector Rector (Latin for the member of a vessel's crew who steers) may refer to: Style or title *Rector (ecclesiastical), a cleric who functions as an administrative leader in some Christian denominations *Rector (academia), a senior official in an edu ...

St Lawrence Church, Winchester St Lawrence Church is a parish church in the Church of England in Winchester. History The church is just off the High Street, in Winchester, England. It is probably of Norman origin, and is said to have been the chapel of William the Conqueror' ...

and the founder of

Hyde Abbey School Hyde Abbey School was a British independent school in Winchester, Hampshire, UK. The school was founded by the Reverend Reynell Cotton in around 1760. Cotton was succeeded as headmaster by his son-in-law, the Reverend Charles Richards. In 179 ...

in the city. He was born in

Rudgwick Rudgwick is a village and Civil parishes in England, civil parish in the Horsham (district), Horsham District of West Sussex, England. The village is west from Horsham on the north side of the A281 road. The parish's northern boundary forms par ...

West Sussex West Sussex is a county in South East England on the English Channel coast. The ceremonial county comprises the shire districts of Adur, Arun, Chichester, Horsham, and Mid Sussex, and the boroughs of Crawley and Worthing. Covering an ar ...

and attended

Winchester College Winchester College is a public school (fee-charging independent day and boarding school) in Winchester, Hampshire, England. It was founded by William of Wykeham in 1382 and has existed in its present location ever since. It is the oldest of the ...

. Interested in

cricket Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players on a field at the centre of which is a pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two bails balanced on three stumps. The batting side scores runs by striki ...

, Cotton became president of the

Hambledon Club The Hambledon Club was a social club that is famous for its organisation of 18th century cricket matches. By the late 1770s it was the foremost cricket club in England. Foundation The origin of the club, based near Hambledon in rural Hampshire, ...

in 1773 and 1774; and is well-known for the ''Hambledon Club Song'', which he wrote in 1767.

References

1717 births 1779 deaths English cricket administrators People educated at Winchester College Heads of schools in England People from Rudgwick {{Hampshire-school-stub